Gun-toting Men Confront Police In 2 Incidents

FORT LAUDERDALE -- Police officers, already concerned about potential problems from a new, lax gun-control law, said they were confronted by men waving guns in two separate weekend incidents.

In the first confrontation, officer Frederick Schlosser approached John McGee, 58, of the 700 block of Northwest 13th Terrace, about 3:45 p.m. on Saturday after McGee had been involved in a disturbance at a field in the 900 block of Northwest Seventh Street, according to a police report.

As Schlosser walked toward McGee`s car, a crowd of onlookers began to gather, the report states.

McGee got out of the car, muttered ``an unintelligible statement`` to Schlosser, then reached into a back pocket in his trousers and pulled out a .38-caliber revolver, at which point the crowd of people began to move away, the report states.

McGee pointed the gun in the air at about shoulder-level while Schlosser stood within three feet of him, the report states.

``I can carry this just like you cops,`` McGee said to Schlosser, according to the report.

Schlosser then grabbed the gun and arrested McGee.

McGee, who records showed does not have a permit to carry a concealed weapon, was charged with carrying a concealed firearm, reckless display of a firearm and disorderly intoxication, police said.

In the second incident, officer Michael Dietz, on patrol about 1:58 a.m. on Sunday, stopped when he noticed a fight at the intersection of Northeast Third Avenue and Third Street, a police report states.

He watched as Scott Raines, 25, of Pompano Beach, ran from the intersection waving a pistol, the report states.

As Raines ran, he pointed the gun several times in Dietz`s direction and at several bystanders, the report states.

Raines was charged with improper exhibition of a firearm.

The incidents were of the sort that police have been braced for since Chief Joe Gerwens pointed out a loophole in the new gun law that allows owners to wear their guns in the open.

Concerns were raised three weeks ato when an officer, in a situation siilar ot Schlosser`s, was threatened, a police official said.

According to police, Berry, upset about the arrest, said, ``On Oct. 1, I can carry my gun just like you can, and I`m going to get you. I`m going to shoot you with my .45. I have a .38 and a .45, and you are going to die for this.``